430 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



attention was called to a very dark coloured waterfowl with a white bar on 

 the wings, accompanied by a brood of young ones. It was obvious at first 

 sight that the old bird was neither a Coot nor a Waterhen, and for some 

 time I was rather puzzled as to what it could be. However, after waiting 

 patiently for a short time, I saw the bird rise up on the water several times 

 and flap its wings in true duck-fashion. Then the white bar became much 

 more apparent, and the white under parts were more plainly seen. From 

 enquiries I have made, I find that " small black ducks " have frequently 

 been seen on the pool in question, and this supports my case. Seeing that 

 this duck is, I believe, a permanent resident in Nottinghamshire, there is 

 nothing very surprising to find it breeding in Warwickshire, but the 

 circumstance may be thought sufficiently interesting to be worth noticing 

 in 'The Zoologist.' I have been informed that Tufted Ducks have for 

 several years past bred at Ellerton, near Newport, Salop. — A. H. Etches 

 (Birmingham). 



The Coot on the Hampshire Avon. — For some years past the Coot 

 has become gradually scarcer at Ringwood and further up the river, and 

 this not only upon waters where "pot-hunting" sportsmen are allowed 

 to shoot, but also upon that portion of the stream which for miles is strictly 

 preserved. I am informed, on good authority, that numbers of these birds 

 still frequent the river lower down towards the sea, and I well recollect the 

 time when they might almost have been reckoned " by the acre." But 

 during the past summer scarcely a bird was seen or heard, — they generally 

 make themselves known at the time of their clamorous courtship, — and 

 I may safely say not a nest was built where a few years ago they were 

 abundant. I believe the same thing has occurred at Fordingbridge and 

 farther up the river, but I cannot conjecture why all the birds have deserted 

 their old haunts, for although the numbers may have been augmented in 

 the winter by arrivals from the north, yet the Coot was as truly a " resident" 

 as its companion the Moorhen. Their disappearance has been attributed 

 by some to illegal shooting during the "close time"; but I cannot think 

 this illegality is carried on to such an extent as to drive away any particular 

 species, and even if the law-breaking gunner is held responsible for its 

 annihilation on public waters, what can be said with regard to the miles of 

 stream that are strictly preserved, and where a shot is not fired from 

 March until August? for the birds have disappeared from the latter as 

 much as from the former, and if the Coots have gone from that cause alone, 

 why not the Moorhens, Wild Ducks, and other resident species with them ? 

 In a former note I have referred to the comparative scarcity of the Pochard 

 upon the same waters in the winter, for at the present time not one is met 

 with where previously dozens were killed. I am well aware that some 

 proprietors on the river are exceedingly well pleased that the Coot has 

 thus disappeared from the upper portions of the river, for it has the 



